Book Review: The Kite Runner

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(Warning: Spoiler Alert)


Almost every avid reader has at least heard of Khaled Hosseini's 'The Kite Runner'. Being a passionate reader myself, I had to issue it the moment I saw it. I've read many books about war & death, but none have ever been so traumatic as this one.

'The Kite Runner' is the story of a young boy named Amir living in Afghanistan in the 1970s. His life wasn't perfect, but things were going well, till a local kite-fighting tournament shattered the lives of him & his friend Hassan. Their lives were never the same again & to top it off the Russian invasion all but ended the last chance of a reconciliation between the two.

However, many years later, Amir is forced to return to his homeland. The quick trip turns out to be a long journey during which he finds out that his entire life was built on lies. He must now try to make amends, even risking his life to do so.

Khaled's writing style is one of the best I've ever come across. It's like a maze—you turn a new corner every chapter, slowly finding you way to the end, but always alert of the new corners which may come up ahead. And the heart-wrenching & jaw-dropping climaxes are just perfect. The description of each scene is so life-like that at times I felt sick to my stomach & my heart pounded with fear & anticipation.

To summarize, 'The Kite Runner' is a captivating book which you absolutely can't put down. It's a must read, though viewer's discretion is advised as there are a handful of graphic descriptions. I'm just thankful that it's not a true story.

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